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Written by Nan Allen
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INCARNATE WORD by Nan Allen
(from her new book THE WORDS WE SING, which releases this September from Beacon Hill Press)
You’ve heard the story about the child who was afraid of the dark and began to cry one night at bedtime. The mother encouraged the child by saying, “But God is here right now in this room to protect you,” to which the child replied, “Yeah, but I need somebody with skin on him!”
That’s what the Incarnate Word is all about. It’s God in the flesh. Though the phrase Incarnate Word does not appear in Scripture, the concept certainly does.
The apostle John, who was witness to this very fact, wrote, The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth (John 1:14).
He was talking about Jesus, of course—the Incarnate Word.
We hear this phrase mostly in songs at Christmastime. One of the verses in the carol “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” uses the word incarnate.
Hail, the Heav’n-born Prince of Peace!
Hail, the Son of Righteousness!
Light and life to all He brings,
Ris’n with healing in His wings.
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see;
Hail incarnate Deity,
Pleased as man with men to dwell,
Jesus, our Emmanuel.
“O Come, All Ye Faithful” reiterates the concept if not the word in one of its verses.
Yea, Lord, we greet Thee,
Born this happy morning;
Jesus, to Thee be all glory given;
Word of the Father,
Now in flesh appearing!
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
Christ the Lord.
In the hymn “Come, Thou Almighty King” each part of the Holy Trinity is described in the verses. The first verse is about the Godhead. The second verse describes Jesus.
Come, Thou Incarnate Word,
Gird on Thy mighty sword;
Our prayer attend!
Come, and Thy people bless,
And give Thy Word success;
Spirit of holiness,
On us descend.
Incarnate Word refers to God “with skin on Him.” |
